That One Horse

We all have that one horse.You know. The one that makes us who we are today. The one that you wish you could keep forever. The one who taught you a lot and worked so hard for you at the same time. Some of us are blessed to get more than one. I'm very blessed to say that I have personally been the proud owner (or owned by) at least four of the version of that one horse! T.J. Was my first horse. He taught me all the things NOT to do when running a barrel horse. He also taught me grit. He taught me to listen. He taught me to be more aware of what is going on. He died too soon at the age of 19 in the fall of 2005. Next was Gabe. Yes I had a few between T.J. and Gabe but I have to skip over Thomas I didn't get as much time with them as I have Gabe. Gabe was that $800 yearling full of piss and vinegar from the get go. He was a hard nut to crack but on the inside, he has a heart of gold. But he wants things just so. He taught me to rejoice with the little accomplishments. He might have been a 3D local, 4/5D at big shows sort of barrel horse but he won his far share! Gabe is now 17 and retired. He has done it all from team penning, barrel racing, moving cows and right down to giving lessons. He also was able to carry my child through a year of playdays. If I had the money, I would put the $3000 in to him to fix what ever is wrong with him but honestly, he is fat, happy, and totally earned his right to be a sassy pasture ornament! When we were running, he gave his all. He was honest. If something was wrong, he told me. However, that punk would devour a set of reins, lead ropes, and in some situations, someone else's tack set! Not even kidding! He won a saddle, a buckle and a ton of other little things. He also won a lot of money! But due to weird circumstances, he is now just retired. Lynx is next. Lynx is my weirdo barrel horse! He is now 11. Born on our ranch out of a mare that was also born on our ranch. Oddly enough, he is the result of my hand picked bloodlines on a budget! I didn't plan on keeping him. Nope, he was for sale as a yearling and no one wanted him. Can't blame them. Despite his pedigree, he was an ugly ducking! Some how he ended up being mine. That blonde spot on his neck was something he was born with and he also has one on his front ankle. I had a dream about him before he was born and knew what he would look like before he hit the ground. Sure enough, my dream came true! He came out exactly like I dreamed! None the less, I had him for sale for $1500 and no bites. Finally I managed to get him from my dad and bring him home. I had no idea he would be the athlete that he is today! He has won about five buckles (I really need to count them) I don't even know how much money, and 3 saddles to date. I have never, in my life, had a horse that would run full speed to the first barrel and wrap it! It's a feeling like no other! I also have never owned a horse that ran in the 1D/2D at most all of his races! He is quirky. He has his special little things that I do just for him. He likes a routine. He wants me to say "Are you ready?? Lets Go!" In the alley! He loves his "special care" before each run and he is insanely jealous of attention that I give to anyone when I am riding him. He doesn't like me to answer my phone when we are riding. He hates anything heavy on his head. In fact, we ride in a super light snaffle with a super light headstall at home and we run in a super light bit. Even my race day reins are light and without snaps. To this day, no one has ever run him on barrels except me. Dee and Robert Carlton broke him and put a trotting pattern on him late in his 2nd year. But no one will ever run him except me. With that being said, he is an awesome lesson horse!! He will pack the kids around all day long. He rides like an English please horse at home (too fast for a western pleasure horse). He is a phenomenon! It just so happens that we bred Lynx's Dam back and Goose aka Perks on the Fly came into my life. Another well bred foal that no one wanted. He was born a gurlla and yes, I also had a dream about him before he hit the ground. I even have a sculpture that I made some 25 years ago that matches his markings. True to the mare's off spring, Goose is also quirky. However, he too went off to Dee and Robert and came back with the same pattern as Lynx. You can literally put their videos side by side and see how they maneuver around the pattern. Goose has had some really random stuff that we had to work through. Luckily I learned how to listen. Finally, at age 7, he is being entered into barrel races!!! I had to get some help though and I am not ashamed to say, I just don't have the trust bond like I do with Lynx to push Goose on the pattern. Well, God threw a 20 year old into my life whom is assuming the position of Jockey for Goose. I am super thrilled with how he is taking to his new life as a barrel horse!!! I have no doubt that he will give Lynx a run for his money! I really enjoy riding him at home. For the first time in my life, I have two that I really love to ride! Its just sort of crazy that they are maternal brothers!!!! They are both big boys! Zbar Lynx To Cash stands 15.3 hands and turns like a little cutter. Perks on the Fly stands 16.1 hands high and also turns like a little cutter! How on earth did I get so lucky to have these two??? Oh yeah...I am blessed! All in all, I have to say that God has really put the right horses in my path and the right people to guide and help me along the way! We might have to deal with some quirks here and there. But I feel that God has a plan for me! He is not done with me! So I will keep on riding Lynx and Goose and if I am really blessed, I will get one more foal out of Roxy (their Dam). I will be 40 in January and I am looking forward to the next chapter with Goose as my wing man and Lynx as my rock star! So when you loose "that one horse" understand that it might not be the end but the next chapter. Like I said, I have been blessed with 4! Don't give up. Just be patient and wait. If your heart is really in it and you trust God, your life will be filled with wonderful horses! I would not trade all the heart ache for the blessings that have been put on my plate!

My Life Has Been Changing!

So I have not posted since 2010. I have decided that I need to get back to blogging for the simple fact that I cant seem to remember what happened yesterday so I need something to go back too and read all about it! If you have called my cell phone lately you will hear my voice message that says "I probably dont even know where my phone is, so, leave a message and when I find it I will call you back!" And its totally true! I now have a 7 month old human child Named Kolton. Kolton is my daily source of entertainment, pride, joy, love, and sometimes frustration! Jeff, my husband, and I just purchased a new house in Terrell, TX on 6 acres. We are down to 3 horses, Gabe, Joe and Lynx. We have 3 dogs and what ever cats that reside here (just moved in this weekend). I am totally happy about the new house! Kolton seems to be loving it too since it has all stained concrete floors and he can crawl all over the place! Jeff has to baby proof the cabinets in the kitchen because lil'man wants to pull up on everything! The dogs dont have a yard yet so they are driving me nuts. I finally tied the lab and the blue heeler out to the front porch so they could have some outside time!
Gabe is lame and will be for a while. He strained his stifle. Looks like its going to be till Christmas before I can leg him back up. That is if he will stop being a moron and running and bucking in the pasture! I have been exhibitioning Lynx, the 4yo. He is doing AWESOME. Joe is with my BFF-Afar Dee getting his butt rode and patterned on the barrels. So its not the end of the world that Gabe is lame. I do live within 5 miles of 3 arenas and that is totally exciting for me! I am also about 45 minutes from Diamond W arena and about 20 minutes from Canton. I have never in my life been so close to so many barrel races! Anyhow, time to go feed the lil'monster.

A happy post :)

OK, here is a happy post :) Lynx seems to want to exhibition now...lol We worked poles yesterday and WOW....he really loves poles and is really good at them! He also worked a nice set of cans! I think I might have to haul 3 boys to my next race :) Joe is doing good too. Lynx will be 3 in April and Joe will be 4 in April...WOW....Gabe will be 9 in April! Anyhow, I am totally excited about my boys! I have only ever really had one horse to haul and run. So the possibility of having 3 just thrills me to no end! I did join TX 30 which makes me an NBHA member. I will have to try and go to some of the close 26's races. I think that maybe by next year I might actually have 3 horses to run! How weird would that be?

How Interesting...

OK i did some looking up. Come to find out that my great great grandfather has a home and historical marker in Rusk County....Of course now it belongs to my aunts and uncle...and Dad....but its a little farm house on 100 acres. I think Jeff and I might go try to find it! History is cool when it leads you back to your roots.

I went to Tyler yesterday to go to the doc. I found me a new Reumatologist there. He was great!! He changed a few things in hopes of helping....not much change, but a few things. He said I have tendinitis from head to toe... That is the best description I have heard since I was diagnosed. That is how I feel right now. He told me that its the RA and my inflamed joints are pressuring the tendons causing irritation. Fibro is secondary. So his theory is to get the RA under control and the fibro will go down too. First step, SLEEP. I have had hell sleeping lately...I fall fast but by 3am, I hear every little noise and that is it. I am awake.He put me back on Klonapan and changed me from Enbrel to Humera. I will keep ya posted.

Joe is coming along just fine. We worked barrels today at the arena...and DANG...he is gonna be one smokin barrel horse!!! New place, new barrels.....worked them just like at home. I think he will blow my mind when we start running! We are working on practice perfect right now. He seems to love it!

Things and Life

Well things are going OK. I have decided to start a Bit Rental Company....well to add to my current Rachael's Equine Services. I just need to figure out how to add the stuff to the site...the paypal stuff and so on. I am collecting used bits for now! I pray that in a few months, I will offer all new bits with the option to buy! BUT that takes a little money to buy the bits....soooooooo we will rent used bits for now! I will have to charge a $35 membership a year to cover lost bits (stolen)and will limit the rental to one bit at a time....if they dont return the bit, they cannot rent another....thus the $35....To make ANY money off this deal i have to rent the bits for $15. That includes the shipping to and from. I have already ordered the flat rate small boxes from the post office...they were free. I will have to either get a new printer or figure out how to get high speed net to two computers so I can print and ship....cause this computer is the only one online and it does not talk to the HP printer that I bought 5 years ago......sigh. Anyhow, I think its gonna work, but I have got to figure out the small stuff first.

I gave a riding lesson today and taught it from Joe's back. He was kinda worn out afterword, but it was SOOO good for him! He learned that when I speak, it does not mean that he has to stop or do anything.....My lesson was at 1pm....it was a little hot. But I plan to take some flyers around town offering riding lessons. Perhaps business will pick up during the summer.....Gabe will be way in shape too!

I was offered a small part time gig today. I will be selling subscriptions to Cowgirl Living Magazine to retailers. Not what I was hoping but perhaps in the future it will pay off right? The folks are really nice and I sure hope I can move up the ladder!

Ahhhh Another Year Gone By.....

Yup, I am 30 today....No, I dont feel it and really, its been a very nice day! I went and got my hair cut....



And My Wonderful Hubby Sent Me Flowers!! Yup, he even hand picked the roses! He is so sweet!



I was wished a happy birthday by a lot of my friends! I love you guys and thank you for keeping me around another year!!

Another New Job!!

OMG I now have like 7 part time jobs!! I am now a distributor for Pureform! I added the info on my site....Go Look!! Also, i had to merge my sponsor page with my photo page because I HAD to add a page for Pureform! This is awesome stuff folks! All i need now is an updated pic of gabe so I can show before and after's of the 45 days of Performance One made by Pureform!!

Im Home! Its Our 1 Year Anny! Got A New Horse!

A lot has been going on over the last 4 days! We went to the ranch with Chivas in tow along with the 4-wheeler and chainsaw. Sounds like fun, right? Well, We went to trade Chivas with my new colt "ZBar Lynx To Cash" who is a 15hh yearling!!! He is HUGE!!! I LOVE HIM!:~) Jeff ended up cutting up trees. We got some firewood though!
I am feeling better. Butt is healing. However, my back is killing me today! Dang it! Also, my co-worker is still giving me grief...but I guess I am going to have to ignore her. All in all, I am thankful to have a great hubby and my new pony! :)

Been a While...

I know, its been a while since I have blogged. But, my heart was not in it and to tell ya the truth, I just did not have anything positive to say! Anyhow, With Ruger being gone, I have taken up training with Colt45. He is a VERY smart dog and is probably the smartest dog I have ever worked with. No, he is still not the same as Ruger, but, no do will ever measure up. However, Colt was starting to be "Jeff's Dog" to the point that when I was on the couch, jeff went outside and Colt sat by the door waiting on Daddy to come back. Not anymore! Only took me 2 days to turn him back into a momma's boy! He now follows me EVERYWHERE!!! Every time i go to the bathroom, Colt finds me. God love him :) He is awesome with the horses, cats and listens very well to me! All it took was the threat of the shock collar and some treats in my pocket and Boom! He is now a well trained dog!!! He sits, lays down, comes, and will do just about everything but stay and fetch. I dont know about the fetch thing....but, the stay is because he wants to be on my foot at all times. He also learned that when Mom says 'here, now!!!" that he better hurry or he will get chased by either Gabe or Joe!!! Hilarious!!! The first time I told him that, he was about 10 feet from me and Joe tore ass after Colt.....Yeah, safest place to be is on my foot!!! Ellis is lovign the fact that I take Colt away from him and, well, ellis kinda got in bed with me last night and it took me and Jeff pushing him to get him down when Jeff came to bed....he is a good snuggle dog and I just needed some Dog snuggling last night, LOL !!! Anyhow, I am feeling much better and very excited that my Biz is taking off right now! I have a lesson student, 12 horses on consultant contract and well, its getting better! Go check out my website! www.rachaelsequineservices.biz

Life Gets Better!!

YAY!!! I am now 29!!! Oh, BTW, I will be 29 for a long time.... :) Anyhow, Jeff surprised me with 2 wonderful gifts last night!! He got me a really nice leather with cowhide frame and a really cool candle holder! Yup, he is a keeper! I also got to order my trophy saddle!!!!! Anyhow, I just found out that I am getting a colt to break here next week. That will be good. We need it...... I might need to take that cash and put an AC on the trailer. Looks like i will get to haul a lot this year thanks to Bobby!!!! :) Thanks Bobby!!!